Setting Off for the Ten Thousand Stars Sect

Even so, everyone found it hard to believe that this corpse was truly the Demon Face Left Envoy of the Demonic Cult.

"What is that?" Suddenly, someone noticed something seemingly pressed beneath the body.

The group stepped forward, flipped the corpse over, and saw a bronze-colored iron plate underneath.

The front of the plate bore the character for "Demon," while the back was engraved with a mask.

Seeing this identity token, everyone felt their breath hitch.

After Zhou Cheng and his men returned to the Zhou Mansion, Zhou Cheng circulated the Northern Dark Divine Technique, savoring the sensation of his internal energy flowing unobstructed through his Ren, Du, and Chong meridians.

He had only just broken through to the second level of Qi Refining this morning, yet he had unexpectedly opened his third meridian and reached the third level of Qi Refining by tonight.

Reflecting on how the Northern Dark Divine Technique had autonomously devoured the Demon Face Left Envoy's internal energy tonight, Zhou Cheng fell into deep thought. Usually, when he sparred with Qin Meng and Lin Ru, the technique did not absorb their energy. Could it be that the opponent must harbor killing intent toward him for it to work?

Zhou Cheng decided to head to the Green Demon Mountain Range tomorrow morning to test this on some demonic beasts.

As for tonight, Zhou Cheng continued to spar with Qin Meng in blade techniques.

The next day.

Zhou Cheng rose early and traveled to the Green Demon Mountain Range with Qin Meng and Lin Ru.

However, after killing twenty demonic beasts in succession, the Northern Dark Divine Technique failed to absorb their internal energy as it had the previous night.

Zhou Cheng had no choice but to return, feeling rather dejected.

Back at the Zhou Mansion, as he passed through the main hall, Zhou Wei and Luo Shui were discussing the killing of the Demon Face Left Envoy from the night before.

The death of the Demon Face Left Envoy had even alarmed the Emperor of Great Feng.

"Brother Wei, do you think it could have been those people from the imperial palace who killed the Demon Face Left Envoy?" Luo Shui asked.

Zhou Wei shook his head. "Unlikely. His Majesty has already ordered an investigation; if those from the palace had done it, he wouldn't have ordered a probe."

"Judging by the signs of the struggle at the scene, it must have been four Innate Grandmasters who surrounded and killed the Demon Face Left Envoy."

"One used a blade, one a sword, one a spear, and one used a great bow."

"None of those in the imperial palace use a bow."

Seeing Zhou Cheng enter, Zhou Wei stopped and spoke with a gentle expression, "Cheng'er, come sit here," gesturing to the seat beside him.

Ever since Zhou Cheng had spent the night drinking with Xing Yao the night before last, Zhou Wei had become much more amiable toward him.

After Zhou Cheng sat down, Zhou Wei uncharacteristically refrained from asking about his cultivation progress, instead offering advice on what to watch out for while training at the Ten Thousand Stars Sect.

Although Zhou Cheng and Xing Yao had agreed to meet at the Ten Thousand Stars Sect in ten days, the journey was long, so Zhou Cheng had to set off tomorrow.

Originally, Zhou Wei had intended to accompany his son to the Ten Thousand Stars Sect for his apprenticeship ceremony, but with the court being so busy and the Emperor of Great Feng scheduled to perform rites at Azure Dragon Mountain next month, Zhou Wei could not spare the time.

Hearing that Zhou Wei would not be going to the Ten Thousand Stars Sect actually suited Zhou Cheng's preferences.

Otherwise, having Zhou Wei accompany him on the road would have been quite uncomfortable.

"Cheng'er, things are not peaceful lately and there are many bandits. I will have Uncle Yan accompany you," Zhou Wei said.

Uncle Yan, who had followed Zhou Wei for many years, was a tenth-level Qi Refining expert and the strongest under Zhou Wei's command.

Zhou Cheng smiled. "No need, Father. Having Qin Meng and the others accompany me is enough."

Zhou Wei shook his head, insisting, "Let Uncle Yan escort you; only then will I be at ease."

"Cheng'er, listen to your father," Luo Shui added.

Zhou Cheng was speechless. After a moment of thought, he said, "Father, Mother, there is actually something I want to tell you: the strength of Qin Meng and his men is no less than Uncle Yan's."

Zhou Wei and Luo Shui were stunned, their gazes shifting to Qin Meng, Lin Ru, Jiang Chen, and Yang Yu.

"Cheng'er, are you saying that these four are also tenth-level Qi Refining experts?" Zhou Wei asked, clearly disbelieving.

Zhou Cheng nodded at Qin Meng.

Qin Meng understood, throwing a punch with such force that the air in the hall whistled violently.

Zhou Wei and Luo Shui stood frozen. Peak tenth-level Qi Refining?

A moment later, as Zhou Cheng left with his men, Zhou Wei and Luo Shui still struggled to recover from the shock of Qin Meng's punch.

When Zhou Cheng had first recruited them, neither Zhou Wei nor Luo Shui had paid much attention, assuming they were merely ordinary ninth or tenth-level body-refining experts.

But that punch from Qin Meng had left their hearts unsettled for a long time.

That evening, Zhou Wei and Luo Shui visited Zhou Cheng's courtyard. Seeing the eight men there, they felt a complex mix of emotions.

Sitting in Zhou Cheng's study, they hesitated to speak.

"Father, Mother, rest assured. Qin Meng and the others are absolutely loyal and trustworthy," Zhou Cheng said, knowing what they wanted to ask.

He continued, "This time, I will take Qin Meng, Lin Ru, Jiang Chen, and Yang Yu with me to the Ten Thousand Stars Sect. Meng Siyao, Mu Ling, and Zhang Li will remain at the Zhou Mansion. You can take them with you when you go out in the future."

Zhou Wei and Luo Shui exchanged glances.

Finally, Zhou Wei nodded.

With his heart meridians currently injured, having three tenth-level Qi Refining guards by their side was for the best.

The next day, Zhou Cheng looked at the luggage—ten full trunks in total—and couldn't help but sigh helplessly. "Mother, I am only going to the Ten Thousand Stars Sect to cultivate; there is no need to bring so much."

Luo Shui said, "You'll likely be gone for a year or more, so it's always better to take more with you."

"You, once you reach the Ten Thousand Stars Sect, you must listen to your master."

"And get along well with your senior brothers."

Zhou Cheng gave a wry smile, "I know, Mother."

In the morning sunlight, Zhou Wei and Luo Shui saw Zhou Cheng out of the Capital City, watching as he traveled further and further away.

"Cheng'er has grown up," Zhou Wei remarked with emotion as he watched his son's receding figure.

After traveling a great distance from the Capital City and reaching a desolate area, Zhou Cheng stored all ten chests of luggage his mother Luo Shui had prepared for him into the Heaven and Earth Cauldron, then picked up the pace with Qin Meng and the others.

The horses belonging to Zhou Cheng's group of five were all top-tier warhorses capable of traveling a hundred miles a day, galloping continuously along the official road.

To maintain the warhorses' stamina, Zhou Cheng even took out specialized spirit herbs to replenish their energy.

The sky gradually began to darken.

Zhou Cheng looked at the sky and, seeing a village ahead, decided that he and Qin Meng's group would rest there for the night and continue their journey tomorrow.

The warhorses had been traveling all day, and even with the spirit herbs to replenish their strength, they were beginning to struggle.

However, upon arriving at the village, they discovered it was a ghost village, filled with crumbling walls and overgrown weeds.

Zhou Cheng and his companions found a courtyard that was still relatively intact and lit a bonfire. Zhou Cheng took some beast meat from the Heaven and Earth Cauldron and placed it over the fire; soon, the aroma of roasting meat filled the air.